JPH03201744A - Management method for communication station - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the period of grasping an upperstream adjacent station address and to utilize the transmission line effectively by sending a frame with an address of the station now in use added thereto to a downstream communication station one after another. CONSTITUTION:A caller station sends a frame with an address of the station now in use added thereto for each prescribed period. When each communication station at a downstream receives a frame, it fetches the address added to a frame in the station now in use and sends a frame whose address is replaced into an address of the station now in use to a succeeding station. Then the caller station recovers a frame circulated through a ring and fetches the address added to the frame to the station now in use to manage a communication station. When the processing is applied through the ring, all communication stations grasp each upperstream adjacent station address. Thus, the period of grasping an upperstream adjacent station address is reduced and the transmission lien is utilized effectively.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] "Industrial Application Field" This invention relates to a ring-type LAN in which a plurality of communication stations are connected in a ring shape through a transmission path and data communication is performed between these stations.
The present invention relates to a communication station management method used to manage each communication station in a private information communication network.

"Prior Art" FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of a conventional ring type LAN. In this figure, 11-1. 2 is a transmission line connecting the communication stations 11 to 18 in a ring shape using shielded twisted pair wires or optical fiber cables.

Next, the format of a MAC (media access control) frame used for ring-type LAN management is shown below.

SD ACFCDA SA INFOFC3ED FS
Here, SD is a starting delimiter (1 octet) indicating the start of a frame, and AC has information such as frame priority and reception of reservations from other communication stations, as well as information for distinguishing between tokens and frames. FC is a frame control (1 octet) that has information such as frame type.

Further, DA and SA are a destination address and a source address (2 octets) that have information on the address of the data destination and source, respectively, and INFO is information to be transmitted.

Additionally, FC8 is a frame test sequence (2 octets). This information is used to test whether information has been dropped or changed during frame transfer.
The NFO part is the object of inspection.

In addition, ED is an ending delimiter (1 octet) indicating the end of the frame, and FS is a frame status (1 octet) that holds information such as whether the frame has been read or not and is used for determining abnormalities. The configuration of the frame status (FS) is shown below.

ACrrACrr Here, A is an address recognition bit, C is a frame copy bit, and r is an unused bit. Both A and C bits are transferred as "0" from the frame transmission source communication station. The other communication station sets the A bit to 1 when the destination address and its own address match, and sets the C bit to 1 when the frame is copied.

In such a configuration, in order to know the addresses of all communication stations connected to the ring, each station must at least know the address of the communication station adjacent to it upstream (hereinafter referred to as upstream adjacent station address). If this is sufficient, and a communication station wants to know the ring configuration, it can inquire about the addresses of upstream neighboring stations in order, starting with the upstream neighboring stations of the own station. Note that an upper layer frame is used for this inquiry.

For this reason, it is called an active monitor, and is a function of any one communication station in the network that detects and removes abnormal tokens or frames that are being transferred on the ring more than once, and generates new tokens. A communication station with a communication station periodically performs the following processing.

First, the active monitor (communication station 1 in Figure 2)
is called an AMP-MAC frame, and indicates that the active monitor is operating normally.
0'' and is assumed to be the source address (SA) or its own address and is transferred.

Next, the first downstream receiving station 1. When a communication station other than the active monitor in the network is called a standby monitor receives the AMP-MAC frame, it recognizes the source (in this case, the active monitor) address (SA) as the upstream adjacent station address.

Then, this first receiving station 1. is transmitted with both the A and C bits of the frame status (FS) of the AMP-MAC frame set to "1", and after a certain period of time, it is called an SMP-MAC frame and the standby monitor is operating normally. The station transfers a frame indicating that the source address (SA) is its own address.

Frame status (FS) of AMP-MAC frame
Since the A bit of the AMP-MAC frame is "1", the next downstream receiving station 13 receives the source address (
SA) is not recognized as an upstream adjacent station address. Also,
The receiving station 13 recognizes the source address (SA) as the upstream adjacent station address by receiving the SMP MAC frame in which the A bit of the frame status (FS) is "0".

Then, this receiving station l copies and forwards the above-mentioned SMP/MAC frame, and after a certain period of time, receives an SMP-MAC frame whose source address (SA) is its own address.
Transfer AC frame.

When the above-described process goes around the ring, all communication stations have learned the addresses of each upstream adjacent station.

For details of the above-mentioned method, see US Pat.
See No. 07,777.

"Problem to be Solved by the Invention" By the way, in the conventional token ring type LAN described above, each communication station must transfer an AMP-MAC frame or an SMP-MAC frame onto the ring at fixed time intervals. In particular, SMP-MAC frames are transferred on the ring as many times as the total number of communication stations minus one.

Therefore, during the period when these frames are being transferred, data cannot be transferred, and the amount of use of the transmission path is limited.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication station management method in a token ring type LAN that can shorten the period for determining upstream adjacent station addresses and effectively utilize transmission paths. The purpose is

"Means for Solving the Problems" This invention provides a ring type L in which a plurality of communication stations each having a unique address are connected in a ring shape by a transmission path.
In an AN, the only predetermined communication station serves as a transmitting station, and transmits a frame with its own address added at regular intervals, and each downstream communication station transmits the received address in the frame to its own station. At the same time, a frame with the address replaced with the address of the own station is sent to the next station, and the sending station collects the frame that has gone around the ring, takes the address into the own station, and manages the communication station. It is characterized by

"Operation" According to this invention', first, the transmitting station, at regular intervals,
Sends a frame with its own address attached.

Next, when each downstream communication station receives the frame,
The address attached to the frame is taken into the local station, and the frame with the address replaced with the local station's address is transmitted to the next station.

The originating station then collects the frame that has gone around the ring, imports the address attached to the frame into its own station, and
Manage communication stations.

When the above-described process goes around the ring, all communication stations can know the address of each upstream adjacent station.

"Embodiment" Before describing an embodiment of the present invention, the basic idea for solving the above-mentioned problem will be explained.

First, of the format of the AMP-MAC frame described above, the information (INFO) field that is particularly relevant to the present invention will be explained in more detail.

The information (INFO) field of the MAC frame contains information such as commands and responses (hereinafter referred to as vectors) transferred to manage the media access (MAC) layer, and is configured in the format shown below. Ru.

VL VI SYL SVI 5VV---8VL S
VI 5VV(i)VL is! It is 6-bit binary,
Represents the number of octets in the vector, that is, the vector length.

0004H≦VL≦FF'FF'H (ii) Vl is a 2-octet vector ID divided into three fields.

d d d d s s 8s e c c c cc
c cdddd is a destination class, and contains an identifier indicating which functional unit in the destination communication station the frame is to be passed to. 5sss is the transmission source class, and contains the functional unit identifier of the communication station on the transmission side.

Further, cccccccc contains a vector code indicating the function. In addition, the vector ID (V
l) is 0005H.

(iii) SVL is the subvector length. A subvector is information for adding more detailed information to a vector. However, there may be no subvectors.

Further, the subvector length is expressed in 8-bit binary as the length expressed in the number of octets of the subvector.

The length also includes SVL.

(iv) SVI is! This is the subvector ID of the octet. In addition, the subvector ID (SV
I) is 03H, and the subvector value (SVV) described later
indicates that the address is the upstream adjacent station address.

(v) Sv, ■ is a subvector value and a parameter of the subvector. Note that a 2-octet upstream adjacent station address is added to the subvector value (SVV) of the AMP-MAC frame L/-.

Now, the active monitor monitors the above-mentioned A at regular intervals.
The subvector value (SVv) of the MP-MAC frame is appended with the own address and transferred.

The first standby monitor downstream is then the AMP-
When a MAC frame is received, the address attached to the subvector value (SVV) of the AMP/MAC frame is taken into the own station as the upstream adjacent station address, and the AMP-MAC frame is
When copying a MAC frame, the subvector value (SV
Replace V) with the address of your own station and transfer.

The next standby monitor downstream is AMP-MA.
When a C frame is received, the address attached to the subvector value (SVV) of the AMP-MAC frame is taken into the local station as the upstream adjacent station address, and the AMP-MA
When copying a C frame, subvector value (SVV)
Replace with your own address and transfer.

And the active monitor shows A who has gone around the ring.
The MP-MAC frame is collected and the upstream adjacent station address is taken into the local station.

When the above-described process goes around the ring, all communication stations have learned the addresses of each upstream adjacent station.

By adopting the above concept, SM
It is no longer necessary to transfer P-MAC frames by the number of communication stations minus I, and the amount of transmission path usage can be reduced accordingly.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the configuration of a communication station 1 to which a communication station management method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In this figure, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals. The explanation will be omitted. In FIG. 1, 3 is an I/AN connection unit, which is connected to the transmission line 2 and is used to receive the signal SFT transferred from another communication station I, and to receive the signal SFT transferred from another communication station I.
control the transmission of the signal SFT to be transferred to. Reference numeral 4 denotes a data processing unit, which processes the received data DR received and decoded by the LAN connection unit 3 and the transmitted data DT to be transmitted to another communication station I.

Further, in the LAN connection unit 3, 5 is a receiving unit that receives the signal SFT transferred via the transmission path 2, and 6 is a receiving unit that receives the signal SF.
A decoding section 7 decodes the frame/token bit string F/TBA from T. 7 is a received bit decoding section, which constantly inspects the frame/token bit string F/TBA and determines the beginning and end of the frame/token bit string F/TB. It detects a timing signal STH related to termination, etc., detects and generates a ring priority P and a reservation priority Rr, and extracts a frame bit string FBA that constitutes a frame.

Furthermore, 8 is a reception control unit, and the frame bit string FB
A is input, it is determined whether this frame bit string F13A is addressed to the own station, and the received data DR addressed to the own station is output. Reference numeral 9 denotes a received data output section which inputs the received data DR and outputs it to the data processing section 4 based on the reception control signal RCT L outputted from the data processing section 4.

In addition, 10 is a frame/token bit string F/T B
A bit delay section 11 rewrites bits while relaying A. 11 is an A MP frame detection section, and a frame bit string PBA and timing signal S output from the received bit analysis section 7. M is input, the AMP-MAC frame is detected from the frame bit string FBA, and the AM
The upstream adjacent station address ADH attached to the subvector value (SVV) of the P-MAC frame is stored in the upstream adjacent station address storage section I2, and the address replacement WJ13
A control signal Sc is output to instruct replacement of the subvector value (SVV) of the frame bit string FBA.

Further, the address replacement unit 13 includes the AMP frame detection unit 1
Control signal S output from 1. is input, and the subvector value (SVV) of the frame bit string FBA passing through the bit delay unit IO is replaced with the value of the local address A DH stored in the local address storage unit I4.

Further, 15 is an AMP frame generation unit that generates an AMP-MAC frame at fixed time intervals and outputs transmission data DT, and 16 inputs transmission data DT to be transmitted output from the data processing unit 4 and transmission control signal TCTL. A transmission data input section I7 outputs transmission data D1 based on the transmission control signal TCTL, and I7 is a transmission control section which generates a token bit string TBA and also outputs the transmission data input section 16 and the upper 5 outputs of the AMP frame generation section. The transmission data input section I6 and the AMP frame generation section 5
By outputting a data request signal DR, the transmission data Dy is manually generated, a frame bit string FBA is generated, and the frame bit string FBA is output according to the token ring protocol. This frame bit string FB^ is generated based on the data priority P□ extracted from the transmission data DT, the ring priority Pr1 reservation priority Rr output from the reception bit analysis section 7, and the timing signal STM.

In addition, Ig is a transmission reservation unit, which inputs the larger of the reservation priority Rr output from the transmission control unit 17 and the data priority P (hereinafter expressed as max[Rr, P m]). bit delay unit IO corresponding to that priority.
Bit R4 of the reservation index of the frame/token bit string F/TBA being passed is set.

19 is a transmission selection unit that selects and outputs either the frame/token bit string F/TEA output from the bit delay unit IO or the frame/token bit sequence F/T B output from the transmission control unit 17; be. Incidentally, this selection is performed using the selection signal S output from the transmission control section I7.
Based on 5 IEL.

Further, 20 is a frame/frame output from the transmission selection section 19.
An encoding unit that encodes the token bit string F/TBA, 2
I is a transmitter that transmits the output signal SFT of the encoder 20 to another communication station I via the transmission path 2.

Note that the communication station 11 in FIG. 2 is assumed to be an active monitor, and the other communication stations 1j''Ig are assumed to be standby monitors. Also,
Each communication station! , to 16 store predetermined addresses AD, l in the local address storage section 14 in advance. Here, each communication station L"1-'s own address AD, 4 is 00.
05H,0OIOH0007H,0018H,0004
H and 0003H.

In such a configuration, first, the active monitor II
On the AMP frame generation section 5, the subvector value (SVV) is set to the address ADH of the own station, in this case 0.
It generates an AMP-MAC frame with 005H and outputs a transmission instruction signal TS.

As a result, the transmission control section of the active monitor 11
MP frame generator! Transmission instruction signal T output from 5
The AMP frame generator 5 outputs a data request signal DR based on S, inputs transmission data Dr, and acquires a token that circulates around the transmission path 2 at regular intervals.

Then, the acquired token is changed to a frame start sequence, and a control field, an address field, an information field, a frame check sequence, and a frame end sequence are added, and then a selection signal S SEL and a selection signal S SEL are added as a frame bit string FBA. Output this.

Next, the frame bit string FBA outputted from the transmission control section 17 is selected by the transmission selection section 19, encoded by the code fbi section 20, and then transmitted as a signal SFT via the transmission section 2. Ru.

As a result, the signal SFT is transmitted from the active monitor 1 to the downstream standby monitor 1 . will be forwarded to.

Standby monitor 1. After receiving the signal SFT transferred via the transmission path 2 in the receiving unit 5 and decoding it in the decoding unit 6, the received bit analysis unit 7 detects the timing signal STH and determines the ring priority Pr and the reservation priority. Detection and generation of R1 and output of frame bit string FBA are performed.

Next, standby monitor 1. AMP frame detection unit 1
1 manually detects the AMP-MAC frame from the frame bit string FBA and the timing signal STM output from the received bit analysis unit 7, and calculates the subvector value (s
v V )/Added upstream adjacent station address ADN
, in this case, 0005H is stored in the upstream adjacent station address storage section 1.
2, and also sends a control signal S to the address replacement unit 13.
c and output the subvector value of the frame bit string FBA (
SVV).

As a result, the address substitution unit I3 inputs the # control signal Sc output from the AMP frame detection III and converts the subvector value (SVV) of the frame pit string FBA passing through the bit delay unit IO into the local address storage unit. ! The value of the own address A D stored in 4, 4, in this case,
Replace with 0OIOH.

Then, the frame bit string F'13A output from the bit delay section 10 is selected by the transmission selection section 19,
After being encoded in the encoding section 20, it is transmitted through the transmitting section 21 as a signal SFT.

Thereby, the signal SFT is transferred from the standby monitor I2 to the downstream standby monitor 13.

The operation of the standby monitor I2 described above is similarly performed in the standby monitors 13 to 16.

Finally, the active monitor collects the AMP-MAC frame that has gone around the ring and takes in the upstream adjacent station address ADN into its own station.

As a result, all communication stations 11 to 16 know each upstream adjacent station address ADH.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that the period for determining the address of an upstream adjacent station can be shortened, and the transmission path can be used effectively.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication station I to which a communication station management method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a conventional ring type LAN. 1, ~11...Communication station, 2...Transmission line,
3... LAN connection section, 4... data processing section, 11... AMP frame detection section, 12.
...Upstream adjacent station address storage section, 13...
-Address replacement unit, 14...own address storage unit, 15...AMP frame generation unit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] In a ring-type LAN in which a plurality of communication stations each having a unique address are connected in a ring shape through a transmission path, a predetermined only communication station serves as a transmitting station, and the own station is Each downstream communication station imports the received address in the frame into its own station, and transmits a frame with the address replaced with its own address to the next station. The communication station management method is characterized in that the originating station collects the frame that has gone around the ring, imports the address into its own station, and manages the communication station.